EP 1837482 A1 20070926 - System and method of installing and maintaining an offshore exploration and production system having an adjustable buoyancy chamber
Title (en)
System and method of installing and maintaining an offshore exploration and production system having an adjustable buoyancy chamber
Title (de)
Verfahren und System zur Installation und Wartung eines Offshore Forschungs- und Produktionssystems mit verstellbaren Auftriebskammer
Title (fr)
Système et procédé destinés à installer et maintenir une exploration en mer et système de production comprenant une chambre à flottaison réglable
Publication
Application
Priority
US 38737806 A 20060323
Abstract (en)
A system and method of establishing an offshore exploration and production system is disclosed, in which a well casing (2) is disposed in communication with an adjustable buoyancy chamber (9) and a well hole bored into the floor of a body of water. A lower connecting member (5) joins the well casing (2) and the chamber (9), and an upper connecting member (12) joins the adjustable buoyancy chamber and a well terminal member. The chamber's adjustable buoyancy enables an operator to vary the height or depth of the well terminal member, and to vary the vertical tension imparted to drilling and production strings throughout exploration and production operations. Also disclosed is a system and method of adjusting the height or depth of a wellhead while associated vertical and lateral forces remain approximately constant. A variety of well isolation members, lateral stabilizers and anchoring means, as well as several methods of practicing the invention, are also disclosed.
IPC 8 full level
E21B 33/035 (2006.01); E21B 17/07 (2006.01); E21B 33/064 (2006.01); E21B 41/00 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP US)
E21B 17/012 (2013.01 - EP US); E21B 17/07 (2013.01 - EP US); E21B 33/035 (2013.01 - EP US); E21B 33/064 (2013.01 - EP US); E21B 41/0007 (2013.01 - EP US)
Citation (search report)
- [X] US 2006042800 A1 20060302 - MILLHEIM KEITH K [US], et al
- [X] EP 0277840 A2 19880810 - CONOCO INC [US]
- [X] US 3705623 A 19721212 - EEK WOUTER H VAN, et al
- [X] US 3017934 A 19620123 - RHODES AARON D, et al
Designated contracting state (EPC)
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated extension state (EPC)
AL BA HR MK YU
DOCDB simple family (publication)
US 2006162933 A1 20060727; AP 2006003682 A0 20060831; AR 056001 A1 20070912; AU 2006202945 A1 20071011; BR PI0603800 A 20070123; CA 2544362 A1 20061027; EP 1837482 A1 20070926; WO 2007108823 A1 20070927
DOCDB simple family (application)
US 38737806 A 20060323; AP 2006003682 A 20060710; AR P060103227 A 20060726; AU 2006202945 A 20060710; BR PI0603800 A 20060914; CA 2544362 A 20060420; EP 06019039 A 20060912; US 2006033708 W 20060828